Ice creeper



June 11, 1946. s. A. SMITH ICE CREEPER Filed Nov. 14, 1944 IN VEN TOR.

ATTD R N EYS Patented June 11, 1946 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention relates to an ice creeper, and more especially to an ice creeper attachment for footwear.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this character, wherein a spiked or toothed plate can be readily and conveniently worn on footwear, so as to avoid slipping when walking on slippery or icy surfaces, the creeper attachment being accommodated within the arch area of the sole of footwear, so that it will not work out of place when in use, and assures a firm tread grip.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this character, wherein the same interlocks with the footwear for holding against displacement while in use, the attachment being readily and easily detached at will, and does not in the least damage the footwear through the use thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, readily and easily fitted in place, without inconvenience to a wearer, strong, durable, eliminates any discomfort in the use of the same, assures firm walking activity, prevents slipping during the latter, possessed of few parts, readily and easily adjusted, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a side view of a shoe showing the attachment constructed in accordance with the invention applied thereto for use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the attachment, only a portion of its attaching strap being present.

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates the representation of an article of footwear, in this instance, a shoe, and B denotes in the entirety the attachment constructed in accordance with the invention, the application of the latter being best seen in Figure l, and such attachment is hereinafter set forth.

The attachment B comprises a substantially square shaped plat l0, made preferably from a blank of sheet metal, stamped and cut to size, having it four corners bent outwardly at substantially right angles to the outermost Wearing side thereof to provide spikes or pointed teeth II for biting engagement with a surface in the wearing of the said attachment on the shoe A.

At the central area of the plate I0 are formed spaced parallel slots l2, providing therebetween an underslung loop 83 to the plate through which is trained a securing strap M, which is of the required length carrying an adjustable buckle l5 for the adjustably fastening of the strap ends together in the fitting of the attachment B to the shoe A in the wearing of the latter for service.

The plate It has cut and bent therefrom reversely to the spikes or teeth I I spurs 16, pro-- truding at substantially right angles to the face or side of such plate opposite to that from which the spikes or teeth project. These spurs may be of any number and spaced from each other removed from the loop [3 for biting engagement in the instep or arch area of the sole I 7 of the shoe A. The plate H1 in its wearing upon the shoe A is placed within the arch area l8, as best seen in Figure 1 of the drawing, where the attachment functions as an ice creeper, the plate I 9 being firmly and securely fastened in place by the strap M, with the spikes or teeth ll projecting outwardly from the arch area l8 for gripping a slippery surface to prevent slipping of the shoe A in walking activity by a user.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment of the kind described, comprising a substantially square shaped plate having bent corners forming pointed teeth and spaced parallel slots, the material of said plate between said slots being depressed to provide an underslung loop, a securing strap slidably connected to the plate at its center by means of said underslung loop, and spurs cut and struck from the plate reversely to the teeth and intermediate thereof.

2. An attachment of the kind described, comprising a substantially square shaped plate having bent corners forming pointed teeth and spaced parallel slots, the material of said plate between said slots being depressed to provide an underslung loop, a securing strap slidably connected to the plate at its center by means of said underslung loop, and spurs cut and struck from the plate reversely to the teeth, the teeth being projected substantially at right angles to one side of the plate and the spurs projecting substantially at right angles to the other side of the plate and positioned intermediate said teeth.

SAMUEL A. SMITH. 

